---
The rain continued through the evening, but Lila barely noticed.
After storming away from the "umbrella incident," she walked alone, the sound of her boots splashing in puddles echoing louder than any argument between Theo and Kai.
"Those idiots…"
She mumbled to herself, gripping her strawberry-scented umbrella tightly.
But her cheeks were warm.
Not from anger. From the fact that both of them wanted to walk her home, even if they acted like five-year-olds.
---
Earlier that Afternoon — Flashback:
Lila sat in class, staring at the raindrops slipping down the windows.
Her phone buzzed.
Theo:
> "Still raining. I'll walk you home. Don't run off alone, strawberry."
Kai:
> "Bring your umbrella. Or don't. I'll be your umbrella."
She sighed.
Two boys. One heart. And she didn't even know which part of hers was speaking louder.
---
Back to Present — Lila's Room 🌙
She flopped onto her bed, soaked to the knees, umbrella tossed onto the floor.
The memory of Theo and Kai bickering replayed in her head like a scene from a rom-com… if the rom-com was written by chaos itself.
She pulled her pillow over her face.
"Why always it happens to me?"
---
Meanwhile: Theo's Room
Theo sat on his windowsill, watching the raindrops trail down like a slow, sad song.
He hadn't even argued with Kai to win.
He'd argued because… it hurt.
Seeing Kai walk under the same umbrella with her.
Hearing her laugh at something he didn't say.
He remembered how she looked today—cheeks pink, umbrella wobbling above them, looking up at both boys with wide, confused eyes.
"I want to be the reason she laughs."
He whispered.
But was it fair?
His fingers hovered over his phone screen.
Text to Lila:
> "Sorry for earlier. Umbrella chaos got out of hand. You okay?"
He didn't hit send.
Not yet.
---
At Kai's Apartment
Kai sat on the edge of his bed, his own umbrella tossed into the corner, still folded and bone dry.
He hadn't forgotten it.
He'd just panicked.
The sight of Theo under her umbrella twisted something in his chest. Something bitter. Something scared.
Why am I scared?
He had her, didn't he?
He stared at his phone.
No new messages from Lila.
And for the first time, he wondered if she had laughed more with Theo today than with him.
---
Next Morning — School Day ☁️
The air was thick with leftover clouds and leftover tension.
Lila walked into school, pretending her heart wasn't spinning in twelve directions.
She met Mira and Sara at the lockers.
Sara grinned.
"Please tell me you survived that tragic umbrella sandwich."
Lila: "Barely. It was like getting stuck in a rom-com with no exit door."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "And which lead did you fall for, miss main character?"
Lila blushed. "Neither! It was just… they were being weird."
Mira smirked. "Weird or cute?"
Lila opened her mouth — then closed it.
Sara leaned in, mock-whispering,
"Weirdly cute, or cutely weird?"
---
Later That Day: Music Room 🎶
Lila sat in the music room during break. Alone. She plucked at a guitar string idly, lost in thought.
Her brain replayed every moment from the weekend.
Theo handing her the wrong smoothie just to sip hers.
Kai putting the extra napkin in her pocket when she didn't notice.
And… the umbrella.
Her phone buzzed.
Theo:
> "Still haven't brought your own umbrella, huh?"
Lila replied:
> "Still haven't learned to stay dry?"
Theo:
> "Never. Especially if it means walking with you."
She smiled.
Then quickly hid her phone when footsteps came.
---
Lunch Time: The Cafeteria Triangle 🍱
Lila walked in and spotted Theo at the usual corner table.
He waved her over. Just her.
Kai entered a minute later and paused — seeing her already sitting with Theo, laughing.
He turned to leave, but she spotted him.
"Kai! Come sit!" she called.
Theo stiffened.
Kai smiled, walked over… and sat across from them.
The three of them ate in a strange, slightly awkward silence.
Theo talked. Kai listened.
Kai joked. Theo rolled his eyes.
Lila smiled nervously between them both.
But she could feel something was shifting.
Like three hearts orbiting each other… but unsure which one would crash first.
---
End of Chapter 20
---